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Canisius University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Buffalo, NY · 1,685 students

The verdict

Canisius University charges a net price of $17,940/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $71,760. Graduates earn a median $60,681 ten years after entry, $12,321/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.8 years — a 20-year net return of $174,660, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Canisius University's 5.8-year payback ranks #507 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 60% of them, and #60 of 203 in New York.

Better ROI than 60% of US colleges#507 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$17,940
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$60,681
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
5.8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
72%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Canisius University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$17,940/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$71,760our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$60,681Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$12,321/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$24,250Scorecard, 2026
Payback5.8 yrsour math
20-year net return$174,660our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Canisius University's own numbers. Net price $17,940 × 4 years = $71,760 total. Median earnings $60,681 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $12,321 a year of premium. $71,760 ÷ $12,321 = 5.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $174,660. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Canisius University students graduate with?

A median $24,250 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $60,681 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Canisius University students graduate?

66% finish their degree — 34% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $71,760 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $108,727 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Canisius University expensive compared with other New York colleges?

Its $17,940 net price runs $973 below the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, and $3,892 less across the full degree.

Canisius University: frequently asked questions

Is Canisius University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Canisius University charges $17,940/yr after aid ($71,760 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $60,681 ten years out — $12,321/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 5.8 years and returns $174,660 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Canisius University degree take to pay off?
About 5.8 years. We divide the $71,760 four-year net cost by the $12,321/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Canisius University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $17,940/yr — about $71,760 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Canisius University compare to other New York colleges?
It ranks #60 of 203 New York colleges we track by payback. Its $60,681 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $17,940 net price is above the national median of $16,902.